plutonium
noun
plu·to·ni·um
plü-ˈtō-nē-əm 
: a radioactive metallic element similar chemically to uranium that is formed as the isotope 239 by decay of neptunium and found in minute quantities in pitchblende, that undergoes slow disintegration with the emission of an alpha particle to form uranium 235, and that is fissionable with slow neutrons to yield atomic energy see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of plutonium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nanna Heitmann—Magnum Photos for TIME Catalyzed by the war in Ukraine and Europe’s desire to wean itself off cheap Russian gas, support is booming for clean nuclear energy, which generates electricity by splitting atoms of uranium or plutonium.
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TIME, 14 May 2024
After the war, Leona's expertise in nuclear pile design led her to a job overseeing the operation and construction of the plutonium production reactors in Hanford, Washington.
—Erica Huang, Scientific American, 20 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for plutonium 
TIME, 14 May 2024
After the war, Leona's expertise in nuclear pile design led her to a job overseeing the operation and construction of the plutonium production reactors in Hanford, Washington.
—Erica Huang, Scientific American, 20 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for plutonium
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“Plutonium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plutonium. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plutonium
noun
plu·to·ni·um
plü-ˈtō-nē-əm
: a radioactive metallic element that is formed by decay of neptunium and found in minute quantities in pitchblende and that produces atomic energy by fission see element
Medical Definition
plutonium
noun
plu·to·ni·um
plü-ˈtō-nē-əm
: a radioactive metallic element similar chemically to uranium that is formed as the isotope 239 by decay of neptunium and found in minute quantities in pitchblende, that undergoes slow disintegration with the emission of an alpha particle to form uranium 235, and that is fissionable with slow neutrons to yield atomic energy
—symbol Pu
see Chemical Elements Table
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